On our recent trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, we found ourselves with six hours to spend at the Singapore airport before flying back to San Francisco. Luckily, Changi airport is the easiest airport to find things to do, so we had no problem filling our time. Here are some things to do at Singapore’s Changi Airport.

We flew in from Kuala Lumpur six hours before our flight, and we could not check in until three hours prior. Our first stop at Changi Airport was The Jewel.

 

The Jewel

The Jewel is a huge shopping mall at the airport filled with restaurants, shopping, activities, and so much more. Once you arrive at the airport, numerous signs direct you to its location. We took a combination of escalators and moving walkways and found ourselves there.

 

Baggage Storage

We each paid $17 to store our luggage while we wandered The Jewel. It was a quick and efficient system, and not having to lug our bags everywhere with us made our experience so much nicer.

 

Dining

We were starving, so our first stop was food—pizza, to be exact at Pizzamaru, the world’s largest Korean pizza chain. They had some interesting combinations, as well as more classic ones. Jess opted for a Korean BBQ pizza with broccoli and chicken. Alex and I stuck with boring Margherita pizza, and both were delicious.

 

The number of food options at the Jewel was staggering. Whatever you craved, you could find it. Most of the people in the mall were not travelers but instead families dining out and shopping (you do not have to have a boarding pass to enter the Jewel).

 

Spa Treatments, Gelato, and Cotton Candy

We had plenty of time, so why not? We booked 30-minute seated chair massages at Natureland. Jess and Alex loved their massages; mine was way too intense!

 

 

We then headed for gelato for Jess and me and the most gorgeous cotton candy for Alex. It was really a thing of beauty!

 

 

Shopping

A little shopping was next on our list. Alex and I found linen pants (the same linen pants—like mother, like daughter). We also found some treats for our flight home at a cute Japanese grocery store. Honestly, the number of stores was mind-boggling! There is a reason I usually shop online.

 

The Shiseido Forest Valley

The Shiseido Forest Valley is the center of the area and is magnificent! Lush green plants and trees surround the most magnificent waterfall that you can see from all levels of The Jewel. There are also walking trails around it to get a little exercise. The HSBC Rain Vortex truly is the jewel of The Jewel and should not be missed. It is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, and there is a light show there at night.

 

Attractions

There are numerous attractions at Canopy Park, primarily for children, that one can pay for. These include:

• Walking Net
• Bouncing Net
• Mirror Maze
• Hedge Maze
• Discovery Slides
• Foggy Bowls

 

Inside the Changi Airport

Once inside the terminals, the fun continues! We went to a Butterfly Garden and an Enchanted Garden. There is also a Sunflower Garden, an Orchid Garden, a Koi Pond, and a Cactus Garden. These are all spectacular.

One of the most fascinating things in the airport is the small movie cinema that shows free movies 24/7. It was a little hard to find in Terminal 3 (it is near the Ambassador Transit Lounge). When we were there, they were showing The Man Called Otto. The only disappointing thing was that there was no popcorn!

 

 

If you plan ahead, you can even take a tour of the airport!  There are numerous airport lounges, stores, restaurants, and seating areas in the terminal.

 

Bottom Line

On my first trip to Singapore’s Changi Airport, I was not impressed. We were in Terminal 2, and it looked worn and had dirty carpets. I had always heard how amazing this airport was, but I was confused.

On my recent visit, I was wowed! There are so many things to do in Singapore’s Changi Airport and so many beautiful areas. We just touched the surface, and that was on a six-hour layover!  What things did we miss seeing or doing?